Meet The Musical Mentors of
The Creative Lab!

Merri Palmer is a singer, songwriter who performs as time/space traveler Alternate Universe You. Merri is a great all ages music mentor teaching Guitar, Piano/Keyboards, Vocals and Songwriting/Creativity classes!

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•Intro/Intermediate Guitar

•Piano

•Voice

•Songwriting

•Performance

•Collaborative Mentoring

•Storytelling

Dave Fisher is a rockabilly artist from Lockhart TX and a father of 4. In high school he played guitar and bass with whoever he could starting with punk, moving to Tejano and expanding in to other genres such as rock, surf, blues, country. Dave is a versatile multi instrumentalist offering lessons for Guitar, Drums, Piano, Mandolin, Banjo and more!

•Beginner to Advanced Guitar

•Beginner to Advanced Bass

•Beginner to Advanced Mandolin

•Beginner to Advanced Ukulele

•Beginner to Advanced Mandolin

•Banjo

•Intro Drums

•Intro Piano

Our most recent addition to the music mentor garden is Jeff “Horti” Hortillosa! A virtuosic whiz and multi-instrumentalist, solo artist and in demand session musician we are happy to have him on board!

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• Beginner to Advanced Drums

• Beginner to Advanced Guitar

• Banjo

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Sadie Wolfe is a cellist, vocalist, and educator based in Lockhart, TX. She pushes the boundaries of amplified and alternative cello, blending classical technique with improvisation and songwriting. She performs with the psychedelic folk band Batty Jr., where she sings and plays acoustic and electric cello.

     Her approach to music is deeply rooted in creativity, movement, and intuition. She specializes in teaching cello, violin, and viola, encouraging students to explore both written music and learning by ear. 

     Her lessons emphasize improvisation, personal expression, and building confidence through curiosity and play. Whether on stage or in the classroom, Sadie is passionate about helping students connect with music in a way that feels natural, joyful, and alive.

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•Cello

•Violin

•Viola

•Intro/Intermediate Piano

Zeke Jarmon has played music professionally since the age of 7, honing his musical chops by playing washboard with zydeco legend, Ponty Bone and the Squeezetones. At 14 he took over the role of bass player in his pop's country blues- rock band, The Spencer Jarmon Group, and by 15 had played dang near every nightclub in Austin, Texas.

On the guitar he started his high school band The Fireants, who won the Best Teen Band Award in the 2008 Austin Chronicle Awards, and the following year took home the Best Roots Rock Award, performing as guitarist in the backing band for Alejandro Escovedo, Sean Sahm, and Bob Schneider.

Since then Zeke has been on countless recordings as a guitarist, bassist, percussionist and singer in his lifelong career as a musician, and has toured and played music festivals all over the country, and shared the stage with musicians as diverse as Capyac (techno), Dale Watson (country), and Being Dead (psychedelic punk/pop).

He currently leads his own band, Batty Jr. -- itself nominated for best folk band in Austin Chronicle Awards this year -- and has put out three albums (and counting!) under that name alone. In 2024 he was re-elected by his fellow musicians to serve on the executive board of our local Federation of Musicians chapter, local 433.

With all this experience, combined with his easy-going nature, patience, and creative approach, Zeke has a lot of musical insights to offer his students. "I look forward to helping you find whatever it is you love most about expressing yourself through music."

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•Bass

•Guitar​

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Chazz Bessette has been modifying/repairing/building guitars and amplifiers and home recording for more than half of his life starting as a teen growing up in a musical and artistic family. Chazz is available for technical consultation for 30 minute or hour long sessions virtually.

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• Tube Amp Diagnosis

• Guitar Diagnosis

• Equipment Suggestions (If purchased outside of Sunflower and Friends)

• Intermediate Guitar

• Bass

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